Outergarment

ABSTRACT

A multifunctional outergarment such as a coat or jacket includes a plurality of different outer shell or frame members and a reversible heat insulating liner member separably attachable to a selected shell or frame member with either face exposed. The liner member has different faces and is provided along its side and top edges with a first slide fastener stringer which terminates in similar coupling pins. The second slide fastener stringer is secured to the inside face of the shell member and mates and complements the first stringer and terminates at one end in a coupling socket and carries a slider.

United States Patent Frick [4 1 Apr. 23, 1974 OUTERGARMENT [76]Inventor: Barbara Frick, 34 E. 62nd St., New York, NY. 10021 221 Filed:Oct. 26, 1972 [21 Appl. No; 300,946

Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or Firm-W0lder &Gross [57] ABSTRACT A multifunctional outergarment such as a coat orjacket includes a plurality of different outer shell or frame membersand a reversible heat insulating liner member separably attachable to aselected shell or frame member with either face exposed. The linermember has different faces and is provided along its side and top edgeswith a first slide fastener stringer which terminates in similarcoupling pins. The second slide fastener stringer is secured to theinside face of the shell member and mates and complements the firststringer and terminates at one end in a coupling socket and carries aslider.

' 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures OUTERGARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to improvements in articles ofapparel and it relates more particularly to an improved outergarmentsuch as a coat, jacket, cape or the like, in which a plurality of outershells of different appearances and characteristics may be selectivelyemployed, as such, or with a common separable liner to provide amultifunctional outer garment system of wide use, great compactness andlow weight.

With modern modes of transportation it is a very common practice for atraveler to spend successive intervals in geographical locations ofwidely varying climates and weather conditions. Thus a traveler mayspend several days in England with its temperate usually damp and wetweather, then several days in the cold Scandanavian countries, followedby several days in warm Mediteranean areas. For each location, outergarments of different characteristics, weights and appearances aredesired. However, particularly when travel between countries is by air,the carrying of the various required outer garments, by reason of theirweight and bulk is highly inconvenient and frequently expensive.Outergarments, such as raincoats, have heretofore been provided withremovable heat insulating liners, but this arrangement has not solvedthe overall problem and leaves much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved article of apparel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedoutergarments such as coats, jackets, capes, and the like. i

Still another object of the present invention 'is to provide an improvedmultifunctional outergarment arrangement in which outergarments of awide variety of uses and appearances are available with a minimum ofbulk and weight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparelarticle arrangement of the above nature characterized by its greatversatility and adaptability, attractive appearance, compactness, lowweight, and ease and convenience of use.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from'a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferredembodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of animproved outergarment arrangement comprising at least one outergarmentshell, including a body member, a removable liner member positionedalong the inside face of the body member, a first slide fastenerstringer extending along the border of the liner member, a second slidefastener stringer secured to the inside face of the body member andextending along a path corresponding to that of the first stringer, aslider slidably attached to one of the stringers and releasably slidablyengaging the other stringer, similar first coupling members secured toopposite ends of one stringer and a. second. coupling member releasablyengaging one of the first coupling members and secured to an end of theother stringer. Alternatively the shell or body memstringers carrying aslider member and terminating at an end thereof in a socket or femalecoupling member. The liner member is of the heat insulating type, havingits opposite faces of different structure and appearances and a slidefastener stringer extends along to top and side borders of the liner andterminates at opposite ends thereof in a male plug or pin couplingelements.

The liner member may be applied and releasably secured to any selectedshell body member with either face of the liner member being outwardlydirected or exposed. The shells may be of light weight and since only asingle reversible liner is employed, a wide variety of garments ofdifferent functions and appearances are available with a minimum of bulkand weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front insideelevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionillustrating the liner member in a detached condition with one faceforward;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I, with the liner shown its reversedposition; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the liner illustrated in itsattached condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingwhich illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thereference numeral 10 generally designates the improved combinationgarment which comprises an outer face portion or shell 11 including abody section 12 and a separably attachable inner liner member 13. Thegarment 10 as determined primarily by the shell 11 may be in the form ofa long coat, short coat, a jacket of any desired construction, a cape orthe like, and may be fonned of any desirable or suitable material suchas woven, knitted or non-woven fabrics of natural or synthetic fibers inblends thereof, and may be quilted or otherwise decorated or formed. Theshell 11 may be formed of a water repellent or waterproof material sothat the garment 10 may be employed as 'a raincoat, with or without theliner13, depending on the ambient temperatures.

The construction of the shell 11 is conventional, except as hereinafterdescribed, and is provided with sleeves, a collar, a rear panel and apair of front panels provided along their inner edges with matingseparable fasteners. In the illustrated embodiment, the garment ingcoupling members 18 and at their tops with the usual slider'stopelements, not shown.

The liner member 13 is of the general configuration of the shell bodymember 12, but of somewhat smaller dimensions and the-opposite facesthereof may be different constructions and of different colors anddecorated as desired. The liner 13 is advantageously formed of a lightweight, highly heat insulating, preferrably low bulk material, which maybe knitted, woven or nonwoven and is advantageously provided withfinished sleeves of conventional construction. In the illustratedembodiment the liner fabric is a woven material with one face 19 havinga high nap or pile and an opposite face 20 which is relatively smooth.

A first continuous slide fastener stringer 21 extends about the top andpull side borders of the liner 13. The stringer 21 includes a wovenflexible band or tape 22 sewn along its inner edge to correspondingedges of the liner member 13 and projects outwardly therefrom andsymmetrical slide fastener elements or teeth 23 which are of areversible nature are affixed to and project from the outer edge of tape22. Following the last separable fastener element at the bottom outsideend corners of the stringer 21 at opposite ends thereof are similar malecoupling plugs or pins 24 which extend along the outer edges of band 22.

A band 26 is disposed on the inside face of body member 12 and extendsalong a symmetrical path corresponding to but of outwardly greaterdimensions than the outside periphery of stringer 22. The band 26 isspaced inwardly of the outer edges of body member 12 and is sewn alongits outer edge to the body member 12 and terminates at points above thebottom edge of the body member. A second separable fastener stringer 27extends along the full inner free edge of band 26 and includes a wovenflexible band 28 sewn to the band 26 and symmetrical slide fastenerelements 29 extending along the free edge of band 27 and complimentingfastener elements 23.

A female or socket defining coupling member 30 of known construction isaffixed to one end of the stringer 27 and is provided with alongitudinally slotted longitudinal socket or bore inwardly transverselyoffset from slide fastener elements 29 and adapted to releasablyslidably receive a selected coupling pin 24. A stop member is affixed tothe opposite end of stringer band 28 in longitudinal proximity with therespective last fastener element 29. Slidably engaging the fastenerelements 29 is a conventional slider member 32 having convergingpassageways, one of which engages fastener elements 29 and the other ofwhich is adapted to receive a pin 24 and slidably engage the fastenerelements 23 to effect the coupling and uncoupling of the slide fastenerelements 23 and 29 in the known manner. The slide fastener stringers 21and 27 are of equal lengths and overall configuration.

Considering now the operation and use of the improved garment 10, inwarm climates the shell 11 may be employed without the liner 13.However, in a colder climate, the liner 13 is attached to the insideface of the body member 12 by telescoping the liner sleeves in the shellsleeves and superimposing the liner 13 on the body member inside facewith the selected desired liner face 19 or 20 directed outwardly andinserting a corresponding coupling pin 24 through the passageway inslider member 32 into engagement with socket coupling member 30. Theslider member 32 is then pulled along the full length of the stringers21 and 27 to stop member 27 to effect the full attachment of the shell11 and liner 13. The liner 13, when lacking sleeves, is provided witharm holes, which coincide with the arm holes in shell 11 when the lineris in its attached condition, but, if as described above, the liner 13is provided with sleeves these are inserted into those of the shell 11.The liner 13 may be separated from the shell 11 in a manner opposite tothat of its attachment and it may be reapplied to the shell 11 whendesired with either face 19 or 20 outermost or it may be applied toother shells having a slide fastener stringer structure on its insideface similar to stringer 27.

The shell 11 may be in the form of a frame, for example of invertedU-shaped configuration with a neck and collar section provided along itsupper transverse arms. The inner periphery of the frame has attachedthereto a slide fastener stringer corresponding to stringer 27 includinga female coupling socket 30 and a slide 32 the stringer mating thestringer 21. Further the outer edges of the frame vertical arms areprovided with mating separable fasteners such as stringers 16 and theassociated slide 17 and couplings 18. The frame may be of any desirablematerial and decorated as desired.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention,'it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof. For example, the improved liner construction may be applied toother types of garments such as shirts or the like.

1 claim:

1. An article of apparel comprising an outer shell including a bodymember, a liner member having opposite faces of differentcharacteristics positioned along the inner face of said body member, andhaving a peripheral edge spaced inwardly of the peripheral edge of saidbody member, a first slide fastened stringer extending along a border ofsaid liner member, a second slide fastener stringer secured to the innerface of said body member and mating and extending along a pathcorresponding to that of said first stringer, a slider member slideablyattached to one of said slide fastener stringers and releasably engagingthe other slide fastener stringer, similar first coupling memberssecured to opposite ends of one of said slide fastener stringers and asecond coupling member releasably engaging one of said first couplingmember and secured to an end of the other slide fastener stringer.

2. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein said liner member hasopposite faces of different structures.

3. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein said liner member is formedof a pile fabric having one face with a relatively high nap and arelatively smooth opposite face.

4. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein said slider member isslidably retained by said second stringer member.

5. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein said first coupling memberscomprise coupling pins disposed at opposite ends of said first stringermember and said second coupling member comprises a socket memberreleasably slidably engageably by a selected coupling pin.

6. The article of apparel of claim 5 wherein said slider member isslidably retained by said second stringer member and said liner memberhas opposite faces of different structures.

7. The article of apparel of claim 6 including a plurality of said bodymembers including shells having similarly shaped second slide fastenerstringers positioned along the inner faces thereof and a slider memberslidably retained by each of said second slide fastener stringers and asocket member disposed at an end of each of said second slide fastenerstringers.

8. An article of apparel comprising a frame member including an uppertransversely extending neck portion and depending opposite side bands, aliner member registering with the opening delineated by said framemember, and having opposite faces of different characteristics, a firstslide fastener stringer extending along the border of said liner member,a second slide fastener stringer secured along the inner peripheral edgeof said frame member and mating and extending along a path correspondingto that of said first stringer, a slider member slideably attached toone of said slide fastener stringers and releasably engaging the otherslide fastener stringer, similar first coupling members secured toopposite ends of one of said slide fastener stringers and a secondcoupling member relleasably engaging one of said first coupling memberand secured to an end of the other slide fastener stringer.

1. An article of apparel comprising an outer shell including a bodymember, a liner member having opposite faces of differentcharacteristics positioned along the inner face of said body member, andhaving a peripheral edge spaced inwardly of the peripheral edge of saidbody member, a first slide fastened stringer extending along a border ofsaid liner member, a second slide fastener stringer secured to the innerface of said body member and mating and extending along a pathcorresponding to that of said first stringer, a slider member slideablyattached to one of said slide fastener stringers and releasably engagingthe other slide fastener stringer, similar first coupling memberssecured to opposite ends of one of said slide fastener stringers and asecond coupling member releasably engaging one of said first couplingmember and secured to an end of the other slide fastener stringer. 2.The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein said liner member has oppositefaces of different structures.
 3. The article of apparel of claim 1wherein said liner member is formed of a pile fabric having one facewith a relatively high nap and a relatively smooth opposite face.
 4. Thearticle of apparel of claim 1 wherein said slider member is slidablyretained by said second stringer member.
 5. The article of apparel ofclaim 1 wherein said first coupling members comprise coupling pinsdisposed at opposite ends of said first stringer member and said secondcoupling member comprises a socket member releasably slidably engageablyby a selected coupling pin.
 6. The article of apparel of claim 5 whereinsaid slider member is slidably retained by said second stringer memberand said liner member has opposite faces of different structures.
 7. Thearticle of apparel of claim 6 including a plurality of said body membersincluding shells having similarly shaped second slide fastener stringerspositioned along the inner faces thereof and a slider member slidablyretained by each of said second slide fastener stringers and a socketmember disposed at an end of each of said second slide fastenerstringers.
 8. An article of apparel comprising a frame member includingan upper transversely extending neck portion and depending opposite sidebands, a liner member registering with the opening delineated by saidframe member, and having opposite faces of different characteristics, afirst slide fastener stringer extending along the border of said linermember, a second slide fastener stringer secured along the innerperipheral edge of said frame member and mating and extending along apath corresponding to that of said first stringer, a slider memberslideably attached to one of said slide fastener stringers andreleasably engaging the other slide fastener stringer, similar firstcoupling members secured to opposite ends of one of said slide fastenerstringers and a second coupling member releasably engaging one of saidfirst coupling member and secured to an end of the other slide fastenerstringer.